William hodge



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. HODGE. CARRIAGE T01 Patent ed Jan. 9,1883.

6 s M w N. PETERS. Phom-Lilho m hcr. )Nashin km D. C.

(No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. HODGE.

CARRIAGE TOP. No; 270,220. Patented Jan. 9,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT Farce.

WILLIAM HODGE, or UXBRIDGE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,220, dated January9, 1883.

Application filed September 9, 1882. (No model.) Patented in CanadaFebruary 15, 1882, No. 14,185, and May 30, 1882, No. 14,870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Hones, of the village of Uxbridge, in theProvince of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented new and usefulImprovements on Garriage and Buggy Tops, (for which I have obtainedpatents in Canada, Nos. 14,185 and 14,870, bearing dates of th February,1882, and th May, 1882, respectively,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a buggy or carriage top in which the backquarters or curtains are rigidly attached or fastened in any manner to abar or rail extending across the rear of the seat, for the purposeshereinafter described; and, also, in means whereby the top is pushedforward by the occupant without rising from the seat, and ready and easyaccess can be had to the buggy.

The several novel features and combinations of parts will be morereadily understood upon reference to the drawings, wherein the sameletters of reference denotecorresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a side view of old-style buggytop. Fig. 2 is aside elevationof m y improved buggy-top, and Fig. 3 a side view of same. Fig. 4 is aperspective view, showing the complete construction. Fig. 5 is a view ofside rail of buggy-seat. Figs. 6,7, and 8 are views of the bar whichextends across the rear of seat of the buggy, the dotted lines showingit as being sectional, if desired to be constructed in such manner. Fig.9 is a back view of a portion of the frame showing the manner ofsecuring the operating-lever thereto. Fig. 10

is a plan ofthe bow-plate, through which a lever pin or bolt passes tosecure the lever to the frame. g

The operation and construction will be more readily understood from adescription, which I will now proceed to give.

A A A" A constitute the frame of the buggy-top. The ends of these bowswork in pivot-plates a a, secured to the side rails, b b, of the seat.Extending across and connectin g the frame on each side near the upperpart is a jointed lever, a, which terminates in a small handle, asshown. When this lever is depressed it throws thefrontbows, A A, back,thus afi'ordingeasyingress and egress to and from the seat of the buggy,and when it is raised it throws the bows forward, as shown in dottedlines, Fig. 3. This lever can be used on any ordinary top not possessinga back bar. The back or rear ends of the said rails b b terminate inupright pins 6 b. These pins are for the purpose of fitting thereto theback her or rail, which can be madein one piece orin sections, as shownin Figs. 6, 7, and 8. This bar 0 has near each of its ends holes forslipping it onto the pins I), and is provided with setscrews 0 fortightening it thereto when the bar is raised or lowered on the pin,whereby it is retained at any height on the pins 1) to which it may beraised. The ends of the bar 0 are provided with small projecting pins orscrews 0', on which are fitted nuts 6. On these screws are fitted theends of side pieces or braces,D D, and the nuts screwed on to hold them.These side pieces serve to raise the back rail or bar, 0, on the pins 1)b when the top is pushed forward in the position shown in'dotted lines,Fig. 2. The back quarters or ourtains of the buggy-top are rigidlysecuredto the back bar. Thus it will be seen that the top can be tiltedforward for protection againstsun and storm without detaching the backquarters. I

In ordinary weather the buggy-top. can be left in the position shown .inFig. 2, when, in case of bad weather, the back rail is raised, whichtilts the top forward, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2.

When egress from the buggy is desired by the occupant, on depressing thelever a, which is at rightangles to the front bows, the top is drawn upin the position shown in Fig. 3, thus affording an easy exit.

It will be seenthat by my construction a buggy -top is obtained whichwill supply a long-felt necessity, and which can be constructed at nogreater cost than those already and back bar, said back bar beingadapted to the back rail by nuts, said braces being also 10 work up anddown on upright pins, which pins connected to the frame operated by thelever are the termination of the side rails, as and having the handle,all operating substantially for the purposes described. as and in themanner described.

3. In a, bug y-top, the combination of the 1 5siderailshavini'theuprightprojecrionsorpins, WILLIAM HODGE the back barWorking thereon and adapted to Witnesses: be retained in position by theset-screws, and JAMES JEWETT, the side bars or braces fastened to theends of H. A. GORDON.

